US yoghurt producer Chobani has lost a court case in the UK over the “misleading” labelling of its Greek yoghurts.
Following a seven-day trial, which was initiated by a complaint from Greek rival Fage, Chobani was told by a High Court judge that the labelling on its product was “confusing” for UK consumers.
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Mr Justice Briggs granted a permanent injunction and said Fage had succeeded in its claim to “restrain Chobani from passing off its American-made yoghurt in England and Wales under the description Greek yoghurt”.
Fage, which produces Total Greek yoghurt, had claimed buyers of “thick and creamy” yoghurt generally believed Greek yoghurt came from Greece and that it mattered to consumers that it was made in Greece.
By contrast, Chobani’s primary case was that the description Greek yoghurt denoted “no clearly identified distinctive class” in the minds of the yoghurt buying public.
Chobani had started selling and promoting its Greek yoghurt in the UK in September last year, until an interim injunction was implemented following Fage’s complaint in November.
Chobani did not return a request for comment at the time of going to press.
